Buffing device fokbaitway cab



Aug. 22, 1933. P. KAss'Er AL 1,923,441

BUFFING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CAR VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGMS Filed Aug. 1, 1930 Patented Aug. 2 2, 1 933 BUFEINGDEVIGEiFoR itAiLWAYJcAR an N 4 YESTIBULE DIAPHRAGMS I 4 4 Peter -Kass and George S. 'G00dwin, Chicago",

Ill. 'assignors to Union Metal Products Com- 7 4 I pany, Chicago, 111., a Corporation of Dela-J 4 4 11S ware 4 Application August 1, 1930. Serial No; 472,345 *j 4 4 17 Claims. (01. 105-10) This invention relates to an improvement in a buffing device for the upper portion of a vestibule diaphragm such asis u sed on railway cars and like vehicles. 4

, The main object of the-invention is-to provide a comparatively simple, ,bufling device having ample strength to normally maintain the dia 'phragmfullyextended so as to effect a tight joint between theface plates of adjacent vestibule diaphragms of connected cars. Other objects are: to provide a buffing device of the type described whichwill be mounted wholly outside of the car andoutside of the diaphragm; to provide a buffing deviceof the'type referred; towhich will permit free pivotal-movement of the endorface platelof the diaphragm} such as normally occurs; relative to the car end when a train of cars moves aroundfa curvei'and' to provide a device having the above characteristics 7 which will also be sufliciently' flexible or compressible to readily'perrnit the 'norr'nalyfull'extent of contraction and expansion of .thecdiaphragm without excessive. wear for strain on the buffing device and without theproduction of objectionable noise. 4 4 V 4 4 Other-objects and advantages of our invention will be understood by reference to the follow- 1 ing specification and accompanying-drawing in which we have illustrated a selected'embodiment I of ourimproved buffing device and its assembled relation to the car end'and vestibule {diaphragm construction. 4 4

m me drawing:

Fig. 1 isan end elevation of 'a portion of a railway car. 4. 1 4

Fig. 2 is across section on the line 22 of Fig. l. t H 4 4 v 4 4 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is an illustration of the parts of our improved bufiing device in disassembled relation. Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and side views, respectively, of a modified arrangement of our imi proved bufling device. 4 o 71 Referring now to the drawing, we have indicatedthe end portion of a railway car at 5, a

qvestibule diaphragm at 6, and a diaphragm end The supports 9-'-9 may beoi any desired form and eachmay be described broadly as including a rod which is pivoted at its outerend to the yieldingly urging the-lower buffer memberB to move outwardly from the end of the car. 05 lower buifing'device 4mayalso be of any desi'i'ed construction, and in this instance is illustrated as including a rod which is pivotally connected to the central portion of the buffer plate t3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to permit pivotal move- T91 ment or the buffer plate 8 and diaphragm face plate'l about the axis of the pivotal connection 4 11. The structure thus far described may be of anymore or less standardized constructiomwhich need not be more specifically described inthis Ill 4 application, since the details thereof volved in our present invention; 4

Our improved bufiing device for the upper part 7 of the diaphragm includes a conical spiral springf 12 which is preferably a so-cal led4volute '81- this spring being interposed betweenxthe calend l3 and the central upper portion-of thej e plate 7 above the diaphragm 6. Preferably, length of-the spring 12 is substantially 4 co-exte 4}, 4 sive with the distance between the card end and 851 face plate so that a high degree of resiliency or; flexibility is afiorded. For positioning the spring 12, we provide mounting brackets 01 supports 1 1 and 15 which arerespectively secured to the face plate 7 and car end 13, asclearly shown iii-Fig; 2

17, land the projecting end of the, stud is of frusto-conical shape and is designed to, enter the apex coil 18 of the spring 12. l 4 4 The support 15 preferably consists of a. socket I00 member formed by a base part '19, and anpannuljar flange 20 projecting laterally fromv the base, 19,

The base'flange 19 is provided with suitably 10- cated apertures, as shown, to faeilitate attach-l ment of the bracket tothe car 'endby means] of 10 rivets or b0lts, as indicated in Figezr The inside 4 wall 214 of thesocket is preferably inclined sdthat the ,socketis of greater diameter adiacentfits outer end than at its inner end. Thejinnepend portion of the socket is preferably ofisuch i eter that the base coil 22 of the spring will be effectively positioned and held against material lateral shifting movement.

The tapered stud arrangement 16 and the inclined or outwardly flaring wall 21 of the socket member permits relative pivotal movement between the spring and the mounting member 15 and between the mounting member 14 and the spring 12. plate 7 may rock about the apex end of the spring 12 as a fulcrum, while the face-platezand spring 5 may also rock as a whole about the base of the spring as a fulcrum. By this arrangement, limited lateral movement of theupper portion of the face plate '7 is also permitted and it will be understood that such movement, as well as pivotal movement of the face plate, about the more or less aligned axes formed by the hinge connection i arrangement described is'that the spring may be compressed to a length: equal to only the width of one coil. Also, in the arrangement shown, the stud 16 which fits inside of the apex and coil of the spring may telescope into thelsocket 21 and hence takes up no additional space. Therefore, itwill-be seen that a maximum working range is afforded as compared with the limited working range-"where ordinary coil. springs are used, which, when compressed, are as long as the sum of the heights of all of the coils.

For'limiting outward movement of the face plate '7', i. e., expansion of the diaphragm 6, we

may provide flexible connections between the upper corners of theface plate 7 and the carend 13. In this instance, such connections are shown in the form'of short two-link chains 23-23 which are of pretetermined'length sufiicient to allow the full desired expansion of the upper portion of r the diaphragm under the' infiuence of the spring 12,"while being capable of flexing or collapsing' when the diaphragm is compressed under normal conditions. The chains are preferably located at the sides of the face plate so that they will not normally contact with the diaphragm 6.

In; the'modified arrangement shown in Figs. '5-and 6, the buffing spring and limiting means are incorporated'in a unitary structure which maybe assembled to form a complete unit which may be positioned as such between the car end and-diaphragm face plate. a I

In-this arrangement, the volute spring is interposed'between and mounted at its ends on mounting brackets 24 and'25'in substantially thesame manner as the spring is mounted on the bracketsor plates 14 and 15: The bracket 24at the apex end of the spring is provided with a pair of lugs or. ears 26-26, between which'a' pivoting block 27 is mounted for vertical pivoting movement on a pivot pin 28 which extends through said ears and block. A link or arm 29, provided at one end with bifurcations 3ll+30 straddling the pivot block 27, is pivoted to the block'by means of'a pivot pin 31 extending vertically'through said bifurcations and block.

'Another link or arm' 32 is pivotally "connected or hinged on a horizontal axis to the link 29 at a' point spaced from the. end thereof as shown at .33. The other end of the-link 32 is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket by means of ears 34 34 formed integral with the bracket Thus, it will be seen that the face pression of the diaphragm takes place.

7 links.

and a pivot pin 35 which extends horizontally through the ears 34-34 and an eye formed in the end of thelink.

The pivots at both ends of the link 32 are 7 horizontally disposed and the outer end of the of buckling in a vertical direction when com- In order to insure upward bucklingof the links 29 and .32, fag spring member36 is interposed between the link 32 and'the overlapping end portion 37 of the'link'29; The spring 36 may be fastened in place in any suitable manner, for instance, by one or more rivets, such as indicated at 38. A

As shown, the bifurcations 3030 straddle the pivoting block vertically and the pivot pin 31 is vertically disposed so that the face plate on which the bracket 24 is adapted tobe mounted is permitted to rock about a verticalaxis as occurs 'under normal conditions without imparting undue horizontal swinging motion to the The pivoting block connection between the face plate'and link 29 constitutes, in effect, a universal joint which permits unhampered relative movement between the face plate and the link.

'It will be now. understood that the structure shownin'Figs. 5 and 6 is such that. it may be completely assembled before'being mounted on a car, and thatthe structure may conveniently and expeditiously beinstalled, as a unit, between a for the further reason that it is wholly on the out-- side of the car structure, and being wholly ex-' posed is freely. accessible for inspection and repair if needed.

We are aware that changes may be made in the abovedesoribed construction without departing from the spirit-10f our invention, the scope of which should be determined by 'reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly. as possible the state of the art.

We'claim as our invention:

1. In a car vertibule construction, the combination with the car and, a relatively movable face plate, and an extensible diaphragm extend ing between and connected to saidcar end and face plate, of a conical spiral springinterposed between said car end and face plate for yield entering the apex coil of said spring, said stud fitting in'said apex coil so as to permit relative pivotalmovement between the stud-carrying part and ,thespring about'the'. apex end of said spring, and means for mounting the base end of said springon the other part comprising a bracket secured tosaid other part and having a projection for receiving'the base coil of said sprmg.

.2 In a car bination with the car end, a relatively movable face plate and an extensible diaphragm extending between and. connected to said car endand faceplate, of a conical spiral buffing spring-in? terposedbetween the car? end and ,the upper central portion of the face plate,"and means vestibule construction, the com consistent. with 3 "In I a car vestibule construction; the eombi nation with a car end;- a relatively mbvable face plate, and i an extensible diaphr'agm', extending between andconriected at itsends tosaid' car endandfaceplate, ofaa conicalspiralspringinter posed between the upper centralportionof said face plate andsaid carend, means for mounting said spring on saidface plate so as to permit-rela tive pivotal movement between-said spring and face plate, whereby the-faceplate end of said spring serves as a fulcrum forthe normal rocking movement of Said face plate, and means at the'sides of said faceplatefor limiting expansion of said diaphragm by saidspring,

' -4.In a car vestibule construc'tionfthe combination witha car end, a relatively movable face plate,fand,an extensible diaphragm extend-- ing betweenan'dconnectedat its ends to said car: end an'dface plate; of-a-conical spiral spring interp'osed between the upper central portion of saidface" plateand said car end, meansfor 5 mounting said spring on said faceplate so asto theupper side portions of said face plate for lim' between the car end and the upper central portion ofnthe iaceplatasupports for the ends of the spring fixed tothe car end andface plateand. arranged to permit limited relative pivotal movement between the spring and face plate, and icollapsible link connectionsb'etween the car end and the upper side portions of the face plate for limiting the movemen of the latter away from the car end. 1

6. In a car vestibule construction, the combination with the car end, a relatively movable face plate, an extensible diaphragm extending between and connected to the car end and face plate, means for supporting theface plate arranged to permit contraction and expansion of said diaphragm longitudinally of the car and also rocking movement of said face plate about a vertical axis, of a conical spiral bufiing spring interposed between the car end and the upper central portion of the face plate, supports for the ends of said spring fixed to the car endand'face plate and arranged to permit limitedrelative pivotal movement between said'face plate and i spring, and collapsible link connections betweenthe car end and the-upper side portions of the face plate for limiting the movementof' the latter away from the car end. r

7, In a car vestibule construction, the com- "binationwith a car end, a relatively movable face plate and an extensible diaphragm extending between and connected to said car end and face plate, of a conical spiral spring interposed between said car end and face plate for yieldingly maintaining said diaphragm expanded, brackets respectively'associated'with the opposite ends of said spring and respectively mounted on said car-end and face plate for supporting said springinoperative position, and a collaps'ible device extending between said brackets for limiting spreadingthereof-under the influence of said spring, thereby to limit expansion of said diaphragm; y i 8. In a car vestibule construction, the combination with a car end, a relatively movable face plate, and an extensible diaphragm extendingbetweenand connected at its ends-to said car end and face plate, of a conical spiral spring in-,

terposed between the upper central portion of said faceaplate' and said car end, a bracket secured to said carend and provided with means for supporting one end of said spring, a second bracket, secured'to said face plate and having means forsupporting the adjacentend of said spring so as to permit rocking movement of said face plate relative to said'spring, whereby the face plate 'endof said spring serves as a fulcrum for .the normal rocking movement of said faceplate,

and a collapsible device extending between said brackets for limiting spreading thereof under the influence of said spring, thereby to limit expansion of said diaphragm.

9. a In a car vestibule construction, the combination with a car end, a relatively .movable face "plate and an extensible diaphragm extending between: and connected to said car end and face plate, of aconicalspi-ral spring-interposed be:

tween said car end and face plate for yieldingly maintaining said diaphragm expanded; brackets respectively mounted on said car end and-face plate and engaging the respective adjacent ends of said springfor supporting said spring in opei ative position, and a collapsibledevice extending between said brackets for limiting spreading thereof under the influence of said spring,there by tolimit expansion of said'diaphragrm said device comprising a pair of'links having adja cent ends pivotally connected together and their opposite ends respectively pivoted to said car end and faceplate brackets, and means for yieldingly urging'said links to buckle in a predetermined direction.

10, A buffing device for the upper end portion [of the. face plate of a railway car vestibule diaphragm construction, comprising a conical spiral spring, a pair of brackets respectively engagingthe opposite ends of said spring and adapted to be mounted respectively on a car end and diaphragm face plate, and a collapsible-device extending between and connected to said brackets for limiting spreading thereofby said spring while permitting compression of said spring between said brackets. 1l.'In a car vestibule construction, the combination with the car end and a relatively movable face plate, of avolute coil spring capable of being compressed into a minimum length substantially equal to the width of its base coil, means for mounting said spring between said car end and face platecomprising a bracket havingasocket for receiving and positioning the basecoil of the spring and a bracket having. a studentering the apex coil of said spring to position said apex end, said stud being capable of telescoping into said base coil'receiving socket when the spring is compressed, and means to limit the forward movement of the face plate so as to retain the spring in operative engagement withvsaid socket and stud, respectively.

12. In a car vestibule construction, the combination with a car end element, a relatively movable face plate element, an extensible diaphragm between said elements of a volute coil spring, a

socket member attached to one of said elements which engages the exterior of thebase of said spring so as to-resist lateral movement'ot the springrrelative torthe element, and a stud member attached to the other of said elementsgwhich engages the interior of the apex of said spring so as to resist lateral movement of the spring relative to the element.

13; In a car vestibule construction, the combination with a carvend element, a-rel'atively movable face plate element, an extensible diaphragm between said elements, of a volute coil spring, a socket member attached to one of said elements which engages the exterior of the base of said spring so as to resist lateral movement of the spring relative to the element, a stud member attached to the other of said elements which engages the interior of the apex of said spring so as to resist lateral movementof the spring, and means to limit the forward movement of the face plate so as to retain the spring in operative engagement withthe socket member and stud member, respectively. v l

14. In a car vestibule construction, the combination with a car end element, a relatively movable face plate element, an extensible diaphragm v between said elements of a coil spring, a socket member attached to one of said elements which engages the exterior of oneend of the spring so as to resist lateral movement-of the spring relawhich engages the exterior of .one end of the springso as to resist lateral 'movement of the spring relative'to the element, and arstud member attached to the other of said elements which engages ,the interior of the other end of the spring so as to resist lateral movement 'of the spring relative tothe element, said socket and said stud being tapered so as to permit relativepivotal movement between the spring and the said members, respectively, 7 a r e 16. In a railway car, the combination with a car end element, a face element movable'longitudinally and laterally of the car to'said end, a coil spring interposed between the car end and face plate, a socket member attached to one of said elements which engages the exterior of one end of said spring'so as to resist lateral movement of the springrelative to said element, and a stud member attached to the other of said elements which engages the interior of the other end of said spring so as to resist lateral movement of the spring relative to said element whereby the lateral movement of the face plate relative to the car end is yielding opposed by .said spring.-

l7. In a railway car, the combination witha car end element, a face plate element movable longitudinally and laterally of the car to said end,

a convolute springs interposed between the car end and faceplate, a socket member attached to one of said elements which engages the exterior of one end of said spring so as to resist lateral movement of the spring relative to said element, and a stud member attached to the other of said elements which engages the interior of the other end of said spring so as to resist lateral movement of the spring relative to said element whereby the lateralmovement of the face plate relative to the on end is yieldingly opposed by said spring. a, 7

PETER KASS. GEORGES. GOODWIN. 

